New Avengers #9Review

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Earth is drawn into the Infinity conflict.

By Jesse Schedeen

If there was any fear that Jonathan Hickman's two Avengers books would suffer from acting as tie-ins to Infinity, Avengers #18 and New Avengers #9 quickly put them to rest. Both books are living up to the promise of being integral chapters in the event. Particularly after reading New Avengers #9, the real question is becoming whether readers will get a complete story without following these two series.

Whereas Avengers #18 focused on the outbreak of cosmic war, New Avengers #9 instead focuses on Thanos, his minions in the Black Order, and their invasion of Earth. Without coming right out and revealing Thanos' plans, Hickman sheds more light on what role his faction plays in Infinity. His grandiose dialogue is a perfect fit for these larger-than-life cosmic villains.

This issue also manages to showcase all of the Illuminati members as they react to the invasion. Events Hickman seeded in the first eight issues quickly come into play, most notably the outbreak of war between Wakanda and Atlantis. Both Namor and Black Panther enjoy some of this issue's strongest material. The only weird element of the script is that Hickman cuts away from an impending battle between Panther and Black Dwarf, but doesn't return to the battle until after it has suddenly and unceremoniously wrapped up.

Mike Deodato has found a great home on this series, which takes him back to the darker, textured days of his Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers work. His art accentuates the tone of foreboding and impending doom in the story, while his powerful, heavily muscular figure work is perfect for massive, intricately detailed characters like Thanos and his Black Order.